Hotel Eden Opéra

The little lift only fits three people with small bags, which was a downside. The rooms were clean, and the hotel is in the Saint Germain neighbourhood. A fridge, coffee machine, and disposable slippers were pleasant surprises.

We booked two nights for November to see Lady Gaga, well before prices could rise. Then on 9/11, booking.com called to say the hotel had cancelled our reservation. They said they could only ask the hotel to restore it, and the hotel wouldn't. Be careful if booking through another site. We chose to pay at the hotel, but now I wish we'd paid on the booking site, which might have offered some protection. Lesson learned.

The staff were polite and helpful, and the room was clean, though cramped for two people. It might have worked fine for one. The location meant about a 35-minute walk to the Louvre, and a bit farther to the Arc area, so we definitely got our steps in. Our room was on the sixth floor, but the elevator only reached the fifth. We had to carry our bags up and down the last floor on a very tight spiral staircase. That was the worst part.

The location felt good in terms of safety, near Moulin Rouge and its many cabarets, and close to metro and bus stops. Staff were good, especially the night shift receptionist. Rooms were cleaned daily, and the beds and blankets were clean. I put money in the room safe and had no problem. For Paris, where rooms in older buildings are often small and proper four- or five-star hotels cost a lot, this seemed a good option if cleanliness matters to you. There was no minibar, drinking water, or tea maker, and the lift was tiny, with room for only two people. I'd stay here again if I return to Paris on my budget.